VALORANT is Riot Game’s first crack at multiplayer shooting for PC. It’s an intense, 5v5 tactical First Person Shooter (FPS ) where one team attacks and the other plays defense. They slug it out in different maps designed with challenging layouts that will test both team’s strategies. The characters are called Agents, each with unique abilities to help them grab the edge in battle. Players can play in different modes, and in this post, we’ll help you understand how each mode works.
List of Game Modes in VALORANT
VALORANT features multiple game modes categorized as Plant/Defuse or Deathmatch type. There are permanent modes that include Competitive, Unrated, Spike Rush, and Deathmatch. There’s also a lineup of rotating game modes that change every patch update (like Snowball Fight). Let’s get to know them one by one.
Plant / Defuse
This type of game mode features 5v5, where you play as an Attacker or a Defender. The objective for the Attackers is to plant the spike or to eliminate all the Defenders. If you play the Defender side, your goal is to stop the Attackers from planting the spike (either by eliminating them or preventing them from planting before the time expires per round). If the Attackers have already planted the spike, the Defenders will need to defuse it.
Competitive
This is similar to unranked matches where you go up against other players, but this time, a win-based ranked system is employed that grants you a rank (from Iron to Radiant) after playing five games. When the match reaches a 12-12 score, the teams will proceed to Overtime, where the team who gets the two-round lead is declared the winner. To be able to play in competitive games, new players need to reach account level 20 before they can enter the Competitive queue [Update from Patch 4.0].
Spike Rush
Spike Rush is a fun, best-of-seven, 5v5 mode where all players on the attacking side carry five spikes. However, only one spike may be activated per round. Players start the game with fully charged abilities (excluding their ultimate) using the same random gun. The first team to win four rounds wins the match. Power-up orbs also randomly spawn throughout the map.
Replication
Image credit: Riot Games / VALORANT
Replication is a 5v5, best-of-nine round where all players on one team play the same agent. The agent is decided via voting before the match begins. It’s five Vipers going up against five Killjoys.
Unrated
This is the standard Plant/Defuse mode in VALORANT where two teams slug it out for 25 rounds (12 rounds on Attack or Defense then switch to the other side for the next 12). The first to win 13 rounds claims the victory. If the scoreline reaches 12-12, the match heads to a Sudden Death round to decide the winner.
Deathmatch
This type of game mode eliminates your enemies, either via a free-for-all or through team-based play. Players have infinite lives and can respawn at random after a short delay.
Deathmatch (Free-For-All)
This mode features 14 players doing a classic free-for-all match where they can pick their weapon of choice. This mode is designed to help players practice their aim, sharpen their gunplay mechanics, and learn new maps and abilities. The first player to reach 40 kills or have the most kills after 9 minutes wins the match.
Escalation (Team Deathmatch)
Escalation is the 5v5 team deathmatch where the first team to finish level 12 successfully, or has a higher level than the opposing team before the 10-minute timer runs out, wins the game. Each level will have players equipped with a specific weapon or ability, and eliminating enemies will help the team advance levels.
Snowball Fight
This is another 5v5 team deathmatch where the objective is to get 50 kills first using a Snowball Launcher to win the match. This weapon fires deadly projectile-based snowballs.
Additionally, there’s a Practice Mode where players can play in the Range. They can try out different weapons, practice their gun skills, and get a general feel of how VALORANT works.
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